Delayed trigger, pellet ejector, and simulated weapon

ABSTRACT

An example simulated weapon includes a delayed trigger and a pellet ejector. The delayed trigger includes a chamber and a piston slidable between armed and triggering positions. A spring biases the piston towards the triggering position. A locking member releasably locks the piston in the armed position. Release of the piston by the locking member causes the spring to move the piston from the armed position to the triggering position. The pellet ejector is coupled to the delay trigger to be triggered by the delay trigger in the triggering position. The pellet ejector includes a pressure chamber to receive a pressurized fluid and a pellet chamber to receive pellets. A valve is disposed between the pressure chamber and the pellet chamber communicates pressure from the pressure chamber to the pellet chamber. A barrel that extends through the pressure chamber is connected to the pellet chamber to eject the pellets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 62/795,289, filed Jan. 22, 2019, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Simulated weapons, such as airsoft devices, are used for entertainment,training, and other activities. Typically, such devices eject one ormore pellets or BBs. Pellets are expected to impact targets, such as thehuman participants in the activity. However, the impact is usually lowenough to not cause injury.

Precise and predictable operation of simulated weapons is important tothe success of the activity. Training or entertainment may suffer if,for example, a simulated grenade fails to eject pellets as expected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an example simulated weapon.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example delayed trigger.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example delayed trigger of FIG.2 with a pin removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a locking mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an example delayed trigger.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an example pellet ejector.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another example pellet ejector.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of an example coupling of a moveablepiston to the a stationary armed-end wall.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of another example coupling of amoveable piston to the a stationary armed-end wall.

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of a region around a valve that conveyspressure from a pressure chamber to a pressure delivery tube.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an example barrel.

FIG. 11A is a cross-section view of an inlet port sealed by a valve head

FIG. 11B is a cross-section view of the inlet port of FIG. 11A crackedopen to allow flow of pressurized fluid.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an example simulated grenade.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example internal component for asimulated grenade, wherein the internal component defines a pressurechamber at its interior and defines a helical pellet chamber at itsexterior.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to simulated weapons, pellet ejectors, anddelayed triggers that provide reliable and configurable operation.

FIG. 1 shows a simulated weapon 100. The simulated weapon 100 may be asimulated hand grenade (FIG. 12) or similar device. The simulated weapon100 may be an airsoft device.

The simulated weapon 100 includes a pellet ejector 102 and a delayedtrigger 104. The simulated weapon 100 may be generally cylindrical inshape.

The pellet ejector 102 may be provided with a pressurized fluid, such ascompressed gas (e.g., propane, green gas, carbon dioxide, or similar).The state of the pressurized fluid may be a liquid, gas, or combinationof liquid and gas. The pellet ejector 102 may further contain pellets(also known as BBs) to be ejected by the pressurized fluid. An examplepellet is spherical with a nominal diameter of about 6-8 mm and has amass of between about 0.1 g to 1.0 g.

The delayed trigger 104 may be used to trigger release of pellets fromthe pellet ejector 102 under power of the pressurized fluid. The delayedtrigger 104 imposes a delay, so that the simulated weapon 100 may bethrown, dropped, or deposited at a location where pellets are requiredto be dispersed.

FIG. 2 shows cross-sectional view of an example delayed trigger 104. Thedelayed trigger 104 may be used with the pellet ejector 102 or a similardevice.

The delayed trigger 104 includes a housing 200 that defines an internalchamber 202, a piston 204 slidable within the chamber 202, a spring 206to bias the piston 204, and a locking member 208 extending from thepiston 204 to outside the chamber 202.

The chamber 202 includes an inner wall 210 and is to contain a fluid,such as a viscous oil. The chamber 202 may be cylindrical. That is, thechamber may be define a hollow cylindrical volume generally bounded by acurved wall and two flat end walls. Other shapes are also contemplated.

The piston 204 is slidably disposed within the chamber 202 between anarmed position (FIG. 2) and a triggering position (FIG. 3). The piston204 may be cylindrical.

The piston 204 includes an outer perimeter that forms a seal with theinner wall 210 of the chamber 202. An O-ring 212 may be used as theseal.

A channel at the piston 204 allows liquid contained by the chamber 202to pass the piston 204 as the piston 204 slides within the chamber 202.The channel may be provided to the piston 204 or to the chamber 202. Forexample, the channel may be a through-hole in the piston. In anotherexample, the channel may be a groove or slit on the inner wall 210 ofthe chamber 202. In still another example, the channel may be a notch atan outside perimeter of the piston 204. In yet another example, thechannel may be a break in the O-ring 212. In still another example, thechannel may be a combination of any such channels. The channel at thepiston 204 provides a restricted flow path for liquid contained by thechamber 202 to pass the piston 204, thereby providing a dampening orslowing effect to the movement of the piston 204.

In this example, the piston 204 includes a channel 214 extendingtherethrough to provide fluid communication between the two sides of thechamber 202 as divided by the piston 204. The channel 214 allows liquidcontained by the chamber 202 to pass the piston 204 as the piston 204slides within the chamber 202.

The spring 206 biases the piston 204 towards the triggering position(FIG. 3). The spring 206 may be a coil spring. The spring 206 may becaptured between the piston 204 and an armed-end wall 216 of the chamber202 to act as a compression spring to push the piston 204 from the armedposition (FIG. 2) towards the triggering position (FIG. 3). In otherexamples, the spring 206 may be captured between the piston 204 and atriggering-end wall 218 of the chamber 202 to act as a tension spring topull the piston 204 from the armed position (FIG. 2) towards thetriggering position (FIG. 3).

The locking member 208 extends from the piston 204 to releasably lockthe piston 204 against biasing of the spring 206 at the armed position.The locking member 208 may be unitary with the piston 204 as, forexample, a narrowed end of the piston 304. The locking member 208 mayextend out of the chamber 202, for example, through the armed-end wall216. An O-ring 220 or other seal may be provided at a through-hole inthe chamber 202 to accommodate the locking member 208.

Release of the piston 204 by the locking member 208 causes the spring206 to move the piston 204 from the armed position (FIG. 2) to thetriggering position (FIG. 3) to trigger a component coupled to the delaytrigger 104, such as the pellet ejector 102 of FIG. 1. Triggering may beeffected by a triggering member 222 that extends from the piston 204through, for example, a through-hole in the triggering-end wall 218 ofthe chamber 202, which may be sealed by an O-ring 224 or other seal. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3, the triggering member 222 may extend fromthe triggering-end wall 218, as the piston 204 moves towards thetriggering position.

Movement of the piston 204 is slowed or dampened by the fluid containedin the chamber 202 having to move from one side of the piston 204 to theother side through the channel 214, thereby causing a delay intriggering.

Various parameters may be selected to control the delay, such as thetype/characteristics of fluid used, the spring constant, springlinearity or non-linearity, size of the channel 214 in the piston 204,distance 226 of travel of the piston 204, etc.

The locking member 208 may include an opening 228, such as athrough-hole, to receive a pin 230. The housing 200 may include ashoulder 232 to support the pin 230 when engaged with the locking member208. The pin 230 may engage with the locking member 208 by, for example,being inserted through the opening 228, so as to releasably lock thepiston 204 in the armed position. The same or opposing shoulders 232 mayprovide a support for the pin 230 against the draw of the spring 206. Assuch, the pin 230 may secure the piston 204 as braced against theshoulder 232.

The pin 230 may be able to be disengaged from the locking member 208 by,for example, being pulled out of the opening 228, so as to release thepiston 204 from the armed position. That is, the pin 230 may be slid inthe lateral direction of arrow 234 to slide off the shoulder 232 torelease the locking member 208, which allows the spring 206 to move thepiston 204.

The chamber 202 may further define an acceleration volume 236 at thetriggering position of the piston 204. The acceleration volume 236breaks the seal between the piston 204 and the inner wall 210 to provideadditional cross-sectional area for movement of liquid past the piston204. That is, the liquid is no longer constrained to flow only thoughthe channel 214 in the piston 204. This reduces the resistance tomovement of the piston 204 and allows the piston 204 to acceleratetowards the triggering position.

In this example, the inner wall 210 is at a first diameter and a secondinner wall 238 that defines the acceleration volume 236 is at a seconddiameter that is larger than the first diameter. As shown in FIG. 3, theO-ring 212 of the piston 204 disengages from the second inner wall 238when the piston 204 is in the acceleration volume 236.

Due to the acceleration of the piston 204 provided by the accelerationvolume 236, the piston 204 may exhibit an impulse or kick during thefinal portion of its movement into the triggering position. This mayimprove the effectiveness and reliability in the triggering of thepellet ejector 102 of FIG. 1 or other component.

FIG. 4 shows a locking mechanism 400. The locking mechanism 400 may beprovided to the delayed trigger 104 to return the piston 204 in thearmed position after firing and lock the piston 204 in the armedposition until the next firing. That is, the locking mechanism 400 mayprovide the shoulders 232 of FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, the lockingmechanism 400 include a generally cylindrical wall, such as a wallformed at an end of a housing 200 that defines the fluid-containingchamber 202.

As mentioned above, a pin 230 is laterally engageable with the lockingmember 208 via an opening 228, for example. The lateral direction ofengagement is lateral with respect to a direction of sliding 402 of thepiston 204 in the chamber 202.

The pin 230 may bear against a shoulder 232 to hold the piston 204 inthe armed position. Two shoulders 232 at opposite ends of the pin may beprovided. In this example, opposing complementary structure is providedwith respect to the pin 230, as depicted, and for sake of clarity ofexplanation one side of such structure is described. If the pin werepulled out of the opening 228 to disengage from the shoulders 232, thepiston 204 and locking member 208 would move in the direction 402towards the triggering position.

The locking mechanism 400 includes a ramp 404 to assist in returning thepiston 204 to the armed position illustrated. The pin may be insertedinto the opening 228 of the locking member 208, at 406. The pin 230 maythen be laterally rotated in a direction 408 to contact the ramp 404 bya user. Lateral rotation of the pin 230 against the ramp 404 pulls thepin opposite the direction 402 to urge the piston 204 towards the armedposition against the biasing of the spring 206. Hence, a user insertsthe pin 230 and gives it a twist to quickly and easily arm the delayedtrigger. The pin 230 then maintains the armed position until pulled.

The ramp 404 may end at a land 410 that provides clearance for the pin230 to be inserted into the opening 228 of the locking member 208.

A stop 412 may be provided at an end of the shoulder 232 opposite theramp 404. The stop 412 may include raised material. The stop 412 mayblock over rotation of the pin 230 by the user.

The piston 204 may be rotatable within the chamber 202 to accommodatefor rotation of the locking member 208. Alternatively, the lockingmember 208 may be rotatably connected to the piston 204.

The spring 206 may have one end affixed with respect to the piston 204and another end affixed with respect to the chamber 202. The spring 206may be directly affixed to the piston 204 by, for example, an end of thespring wire being inserted into the blind bore (not shown; see FIGS. 8Aand 8B) in the piston 204. The spring 206 may be directly affixed to thearmed-end wall 216 of the chamber 202 by, for example, an end of thespring wire being inserted into the blind hole in the armed-end wall216.

As such, in examples where the locking member 208 is affixed or integralwith the piston 204, lateral rotation of the pin 230 against the ramp404 may develop a torque in the spring 206. The spring 206 may beaffixed to the piston 204 and chamber 202 such that the opening 228clears the ramp 404 when the spring is free of torque, so that the pin230 may be readily inserted. Twisting the pin 230 to arm the devicethereby develops the torque in the spring 206. The torque is maintainedin the armed position. Hence, when the pin 230 is pulled, the torque isreleased to rotate the locking member 208 back to the orientation wherethe opening 228 clears the ramp 404, as shown by arrow 414 in FIG. 4.This returning torque allows easier and quicker insertion of the pin 230and arming of the delayed trigger device.

As shown in FIG. 5, multiple different delay settings may be provided.

A first shoulder 500 may support a pin to releasably lock a piston 502at a first armed position that is a first distance 504 from a triggeringposition 506.

A second shoulder 508 may support the pin to releasably lock the piston502 at a second armed position that is a second distance 510 from thetriggering position 506. The second distance 510 is greater than thefirst distance 504 to provide a greater travel distance for the piston204 and therefore a longer delay.

Any number of shoulders 500, 508, 512 may be provided for any number ofdiscrete delay settings. A specific delay setting may be selected bytwisting the pin.

A locking ridge 514 that separates a shoulder 500 from a ramp 516 may beprovided to prevent inadvertent triggering. The locking ridge 514 is tohold the pin at the shoulder 500 against a jarring force or anuntwisting torque developed in a spring that moves the piston 502. Thelocking ridge 514 may be defined by the shoulder 500 being lower thanthe highest part of the ramp 516. A similar ridge 518 may be providedbetween shoulders 500, 508, 512 to maintain a selected delay setting.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an example pellet ejector 102.The pellet ejector 102 includes pressure chamber 602 to receive apressurized fluid, a pellet chamber 604 to receive pellets 606, a valve608, and a barrel 610.

The pressure chamber 602 may be provided with pressurized fluid via afluid filling port 612 that may include a one-way valve to keep thefluid in the pressure chamber 602.

The pellet chamber 604, in this example, is shaped to contain one row ofpellets 606. The pellet chamber 604 may be helical in shape, as shown inFIG. 13, and wrap around the pressure chamber 602. The pellet chamber604 includes a pressure inlet 614 and a pressure outlet 616. Thepressure inlet 614 receives pressurized fluid from the pressure chamber602 to push the pellets through the pellet chamber 604 towards thepressure outlet 616.

The valve 608 is disposed, from the perspective of fluid flow, betweenthe pressure chamber 602 and the pressure inlet 614 of the pelletchamber 604. The valve 608, when opened, communicates pressure from thepressure chamber 602 to the pellet chamber 604. When closed, the valve608 stops fluid flow from the pressure chamber 602 to the pellet chamber604. The valve 608 is shown schematically in FIG. 6 and is shown ingreater detail in FIGS. 7 and 9.

The barrel 610 is connected to the pressure outlet 616 of pellet chamber604 to receive pressurized fluid and pellets 606 from the pellet chamber604 and to eject the pellets 606. The barrel 610 may include a choke atits muzzle, as will be described in detail with respect to FIG. 10.

The barrel 610 extends through the pressure chamber 602. This savesspace and allows the pellet ejector 102 to be compact.

A pressure delivery tube 618 may be provided to connect the valve 608 tothe pressure inlet 614 of the pellet chamber 604. The pressure deliverytube may extend through the pressure chamber 602 to further make thepellet ejector 102 more compact.

The overall structure of the pellet ejector 102 may be defined by ahousing 620, which may be generally cylindrical. The housing may have atrigger end 622 and an ejection end 624 opposite the trigger end 622.The valve 608 may include an actuating member exposed to outsideactuation 626 at the trigger end 622 of the housing, such as actuationprovided by a triggering member 222 of a delayed trigger 104. The barrel610 may exit at the ejection end 624 of the housing 620. The fluidfilling port may be located at the ejection end 624 of the housing 620.This arrangement may provide further compactness to the pellet ejector102.

Flow of pressurized fluid is shown by double-headed arrows. When thevalve 608 is opened, flow originates at the pressure chamber 602, passesthrough the valve 608, passed through the pressure delivery tube 618,enters the pellet chamber 604 at the pressure inlet 614, passes throughthe pellet chamber 604 carrying pellets 606 with it to the pressureoutlet 616, and passes through the barrel 610 carrying pellets 606 withit to eject pellets 606 at the ejection end 624 of the housing 620. Itis contemplated that the pressurized fluid may have liquid and gasstates within the pressure chamber 602 and may transition to pure gas atany point downstream of the pressure chamber 602.

The pellet ejector 102 may be used with a delayed trigger 104 to form asimulated weapon, such as a simulated hand grenade. The pellet ejector102 may be used with another trigger, such as a trigger of a simulatedgrenade launcher that may be affixed to a simulated firearm.

FIG. 7 shows another example pellet ejector 700 that is similar to thepellet ejector 102 and showing additional/different detail. The samenumbering is used for clarity. Also shown in FIG. 7 is an actuatingmember 702 of the valve 608.

FIG. 8A shows an example of a way of coupling the moveable piston 204 tothe relatively stationary armed-end wall 216 using the coil spring 206,so that the spring 206 may develop a torque when the piston 204 issimultaneously twisted and raised into the armed position. As describedabove, this allows the spring 206 provide a torsional force, in additionto a linear thrusting force when triggered, so as to return the piston204 to a starting orientation at the triggering position. The structureillustrated is merely one example of the contemplated coupling.

The armed-end wall 216 may include a coupling structure 800 to secure anend 802 of the wire of the coil spring 206. The coupling structure 800may include an opening, such as a blind bore 804 that receives the end802 of the coil spring 206. The end 802 of the spring 206 may beinserted into the bore blind 804. Any type of securement may be used topermanently secure the end 802 of the spring 206 in the bore blind 804,such as a friction fit, interference fit, shrink fit, brazing, cement,adhesive, crimping, etc.

The piston 204 may include a similar coupling structure 806 topermanently secure the other end of the spring 206.

FIG. 8B shows another example way of coupling the moveable piston 204 tothe relatively stationary armed-end wall 216 using the coil spring 206,so that the spring 206 may develop a torque when the piston 204 issimultaneously twisted and raised into the armed position. In thisexample, the end 820 of the wire of a coil spring 206 is bent togenerally align with the expansive/compressive axis of the spring 206.The end 820 may then be inserted into a blind bore 822 or other openingin the moveable piston 204 or armed-end wall 216, designated generallyat 824. The permanent securement of the end 820 in the bore 822 may beas above.

FIG. 9 shows a close-up view of the region around the valve 608 thatconveys pressure from the pressure chamber 602 to the pressure deliverytube 618. The valve 608 may include a valve stem 900 that extendsbetween an actuating member 702 and a valve head 902. The valve head 902may include an O-ring or other sealing element to seal closed an inletport 904 of a connecting channel 906 that communicates the pressurechamber 602 to the pressure delivery tube 618. The valve 608 may bebiased to close the inlet port 904 by pressure within the pressurechamber 602. When the valve 608 is opened by, for example, a triggingmember 222 of a delayed trigger 104, pressurized fluid flows(double-headed arrow) from the pressure chamber 602, through the valve608, and into the pressure delivery tube 618 that extends through thepressure chamber 602. A spring 908 may be provided to bias the valveclosed. The spring 980 may be a coil spring positioned in a pocket toexpand against the actuating member 702.

FIG. 10 shows the barrel 610 in isolation. The barrel 610 may a hollowcylinder. The barrel 610 may include a choke 1000 at its muzzle. Thechoke 1000 may include a linearly narrowing diameter, as depicted,though other geometries are contemplated. The choke 1000 may affectprojectile pattern, and the effect may be opposite that a conventionalchoke of a typical firearm. The choke 1000 may increase dispersion andopposed to reducing dispersion as found in a typical shotgun choke, forexample. Increased dispersion is advantageous in a simulated weapon 100that simulates a grenade or other area-of-effect weapon.

Reduced dispersion may be caused by the size of the pellets 606 relativeto barrel diameter. The pellets 606 are larger than what is typicallyfired from a shotgun. Typical shotgun projectiles are significantlysmaller than the barrel (e.g., half diameter or much less typically).The diameter of the pellets 606 may be selected to be much larger,relatively, such as greater than 90% of barrel diameter. A largerprojectile is propelled down the barrel and sometimes is deflected bythe reduced end of the barrel by varying degrees. Conversely aconventional shotgun fires a bolus of smaller projectiles which isconstricted by the choke in order to tailor projectile dispersion.Typically, a slight restriction is used in order to tailor the shape ofthe bolus of projectiles to reduce its expansion once it has left thebarrel.

With the barrel 610 and relative sizing of pellets 606, only one pellet606 passes through the choke 1000 at a time with its trajectory beingaffected as it passes through the choke 1000. Significant variation inhow subsequent pellets 606 are affected has been observed.

The ratio between the diameter 1002 of the overall bore 1004 of thebarrel 610, exit taper 1006 (e.g., angle, linearity) of the restrictionof the choke 1000, and outlet diameter 1008 of the restriction may beselected to achieve different degrees of spread and statisticaldistributions. Moreover, obround openings may be used to cause a widerdistribution in a particularly desirable direction (e.g., widerhorizontal dispersion, reduced vertical dispersion). In one example, abarrel 610 with a circular cross-section has a substantially straightbore 1004 that terminates at a reduced opening. The diameter 1002 ofbore 1004 is not greater than 25% larger than the diameter of aspherical pellet 606. Further, the reduced opening at the choke 1000 hasan exit taper 1006 whose included angle 1010 exceeds 10 degrees.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show the piston 204 and valve 604 in isolation, withan optional feature to increase the suddenness of the opening of thevalve 604. Reducing the time required to open the valve 604, open to theextent that it provides substantial flow of pressurized fluid, mayimprove the simulated effect of, for example, a grenade. A sudden andrapid burst of pellets may be desired, as opposed to a delayed and/orinitially slow ejection of pellets.

The triggering member 222 of the piston 204 may include a blind bore1100 or similar feature to hold a spring 1102, such as a coil spring orother biasing element. The spring 1102 may be captured between thetriggering member 222 (e.g., within its bore) and a surface 1104 ofactuating member 702 of the valve 604.

The spring 1102 may provide a pre-load to the valve 604 while the valve604 remains closed. This pre-load may build as the piston 204 movestowards the triggering position. When the force needed to open the valve604 is achieved by the spring 1102 and/or by direct contact of thepiston's triggering member 222, the energy stored in the spring 1102 mayhelp to push the valve 604 to full open in a quicker manner than bymovement of the piston 204 alone.

FIG. 11A shows the inlet port 904 sealed by the valve head 902. Thepiston 204 has moved towards the trigging position so that the spring1102 is just about to break the cracking force to open the inlet port904. Energy is stored in the spring 1102 at this time. FIG. 11B showsthe inlet port 904 cracked open to allow flow of pressurized fluid. Atthis point an end 1106 of the triggering member 222 of the piston 204may be in direct contact with the surface 1104 of actuating member 702to directly transmit opening force. Alternatively or additionally, thespring 1102 may be fully compressed (i.e., coils in contact with oneanother), so as to directly transmit opening force. When the crackingforce to open the inlet port 904 is exceeded, the spring 1102 is free torelease its built up energy and expand to accelerate the valve 604towards its full open state. The action of the spring 1102 may reducethe time to open the valve 604 and may compensate for the slower actionof the piston 204, which may be relatively slow due to it needing tomove though fluid, such as viscous oil.

It should be recognized that features and aspects of the variousexamples provided above can be combined into further examples that alsofall within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, thefigures are not to scale and may have size and shape exaggerated forillustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A delayed trigger comprising: a chamber includingan inner wall; a piston slidably disposed within the chamber between anarmed position and a triggering position, the piston including an outerperimeter that forms a seal with the inner wall of the chamber, achannel at the piston to allow liquid contained by the chamber to passthe piston as the piston slides within the chamber; a spring to bias thepiston towards the triggering position; and a locking member extendingfrom the piston to releasably lock the piston against biasing of thespring at the armed position; wherein release of the piston by thelocking member causes the spring to move the piston from the armedposition to the triggering position to trigger a component coupled tothe delay trigger.
 2. The delayed trigger of claim 1, wherein thechamber defines an acceleration volume at the triggering position, theacceleration volume to break the seal between the piston and the innerwall to provide additional passage of liquid past the piston toaccelerate the piston towards the triggering position.
 3. The delayedtrigger of claim 2, wherein chamber and piston are cylindrical, whereinthe inner wall is at a first diameter, and wherein the accelerationvolume is defined by a second inner wall of a second diameter that islarger than the first diameter.
 4. The delayed trigger of claim 1,further comprising a pin to engage with the locking member to releasablylock the piston in the armed position, wherein the pin is disengageablefrom the locking member to release the piston from the armed position.5. The delayed trigger of claim 4, further comprising a shoulder tosupport the pin when engaged with the locking member.
 6. The delayedtrigger of claim 5, wherein the shoulder is a first shoulder toreleasably lock the piston at the armed position as a first armedposition that is a first distance from the triggering position, thedelayed trigger further comprising a second shoulder to support the pinwhen engaged with the locking member, the second shoulder to releasablylock the piston at a second armed position that is a second distancefrom the triggering position, wherein the second distance is greaterthan the first distance.
 7. The delayed trigger of claim 5, wherein thepin is slidably releasable from the shoulder to disengage from thelocking member.
 8. The delayed trigger of claim 7, further comprising aramp to guide the pin towards the shoulder against the biasing of thespring.
 9. The delayed trigger of claim 8, wherein the pin is laterallyengageable with the locking member with respect to a direction ofsliding of the piston in the chamber, wherein the piston and chamber arecylindrical, wherein lateral rotation of the pin against the ramp urgesthe piston towards the armed position against the biasing of the spring.10. The delayed trigger of claim 9, wherein the spring is a coil springincluding one end affixed with respect to the piston and another endaffixed with respect to the chamber, wherein lateral rotation of the pinagainst the ramp torques the spring.
 11. The delayed trigger of claim10, wherein the locking member includes an opening to laterally engagethe pin, wherein the opening clears the ramp to allow insertion of thepin when the piston is in the triggering position.
 12. The delayedtrigger of claim 11, further comprising a locking ridge separating theshoulder from the ramp, wherein the locking ridge is to hold the pin atthe shoulder.
 13. The delayed trigger of claim 1, further comprising abiasing element at a triggering member of the piston, the biasingelement to communicate an opening force from the piston to a valve ofthe component coupled to the delay trigger.
 14. A pellet ejectorcomprising: a pressure chamber to receive a pressurized fluid; a pelletchamber to receive pellets, the pellet chamber including a pressureinlet and a pressure outlet; a valve disposed between the pressurechamber and the pressure inlet of the pellet chamber, the valve tocommunicate pressure from the pressure chamber to the pellet chamberwhen the valve is opened; a barrel connected to the pressure outlet ofthe pellet chamber to eject the pellets; wherein the barrel extendsthrough the pressure chamber.
 15. The pellet ejector of claim 14,further comprising a pressure delivery tube connecting the valve to thepressure inlet of the pellet chamber, wherein the pressure delivery tubeextends through the pressure chamber.
 16. The pellet ejector of claim14, further comprising a housing including a trigger end and an ejectionend opposite the trigger end, wherein the valve includes an actuatingmember exposed to outside actuation at the trigger end, and wherein thebarrel exits at the ejection end.
 17. The pellet ejector of claim 16,further comprising a fluid filling port at the ejection end of thehousing.
 18. The pellet ejector of claim 14, wherein the pellet chamberis helical in shape and wraps around the pressure chamber.
 19. Thepellet ejector of claim 14, wherein the barrel and pellets arerelatively sized to limit the barrel to eject only one pellet at a time,and wherein the barrel includes a choke.
 20. A simulated weaponcomprising: a delayed trigger comprising: a chamber including an innerwall; a piston slidably disposed within the chamber between an armedposition and a triggering position, the piston including an outerperimeter that forms a seal with the inner wall of the chamber, achannel at the piston to allow liquid contained by the chamber to passthe piston as the piston slides within the chamber; a spring to bias thepiston towards the triggering position; and a locking member extendingfrom the piston to releasably lock the piston against biasing of thespring at the armed position; wherein release of the piston by thelocking member causes the spring to move the piston from the armedposition to the triggering position; and a pellet ejector coupled to thedelay trigger to be triggered by the delay trigger in the triggeringposition, the pellet ejector including: a pressure chamber to receive apressurized fluid; a pellet chamber to receive pellets, the pelletchamber including a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet; a valvedisposed between the pressure chamber and the pressure inlet of thepellet chamber, the valve to communicate pressure from the pressurechamber to the pellet chamber when the valve is opened; and a barrelconnected to the pressure outlet of the pellet chamber to eject thepellets; wherein the barrel extends through the pressure chamber.